Stuttgart presents pioneering further training projects for SMEs!

Stuttgart presents pioneering further training projects for SMEs!

The final event “Innovative further training in focus” took place on May 15, 2025 at the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart. At this event, the results of various innovative further training projects funded by the Ministry of Economics, Labor and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg were presented and discussed in detail. Michael Kleiner, Ministerial Director of the Ministry, spoke about the challenging changes that employees and companies are faced with due to social and technical developments.

Kleiner emphasized the need for political support to promote the development of relevant continuing education offerings. “The challenges that companies face require new knowledge and skills,” says Kleiner. The financial support of the state of Baden-Württemberg in the amount of 3.7 million euros created space for the testing and practical readiness of innovative further training concepts, which should ultimately also serve the competitiveness of companies.

Focus of the further training projects

The funded projects are in the context of the continuing education offensive WEITER.mitBILDUNG@BW and include a total of 14 initiatives that were launched in three funding calls: WEITER.mit.FUTURE_SKILLS@BW, BAU.weiter.BILDEN@BW and further education.an.Lernfabriken@BW. The focus of these projects is diverse and covers important topics, including digitalization, cyber security, artificial intelligence, sustainable technologies, sustainable construction and Industry 4.0.

The ministry has made it its mission to continuously develop further vocational training offerings in the country. The continuing education market in Baden-Württemberg already offers numerous high-quality offerings, but the development and testing of innovative continuing education formats are central concerns. This is supported by regular calls for funding, which are intended to promote dynamism in the education sector.

Target groups and special focus

A key aspect of the funded projects is the timely raising of awareness for further vocational training and the implementation of target group-specific qualification measures. The offers are aimed particularly at less qualified and groups of people who have no further training. Particular attention is also paid to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

There are currently 18 projects being planned and implemented, which are supported with a total funding amount of around 6 million euros (as of January 2023). These projects are designed to teach skills that are essential for the structural transformation of our economy. A central element is also the testing of qualification associations for SMEs that target specialists and managers as well as unskilled and semi-skilled employees who are at increased risk of job loss. A current overview of all projects is available on the ministry's continuing education portal.

In summary, it can be said that the initiative to promote innovative further training not only aims to take into account the current challenges of the world of work, but can also be seen as an important driver of innovation for companies. This is crucial in order to sustainably secure the future viability of Baden-Württemberg as a location.